Five reasons to see Mark Watson
The comedian has previously assumed a Welsh persona and had spats with Stewart Lee and Frankie Boyle
1 For those who haven’t seen him perform in the past five or so years, Watson is no longer Welsh. In that he was never actually Welsh. His accent was purely a stage crutch (or a character tool, if you wish) to overcome his general unease at actually being on stage at all.
2 The never-Welsh Watson was part of the Cambridge Footlights crew at the beginning of the century. Alongside the likes of Tim Key, Sophie Winkleman, Tom Basden and Emily Howes (later to be known as Emily Watson Howes), he appeared in two productions, Non-Sexual Kissing and Far Too Happy, all the while plotting his world domination of the Edinburgh Fringe.
3 And that plan got into full swing in 2004 when he teamed up with Rhod Gilbert (whatever happened to him?) to become the Stereocomics, a reference to the actually-Welsh band (not that we’re suggesting Gilbert isn’t totally Welsh) while launching his first comedy marathon, Mark Watson’s Overambitious 24-Hour Show.
4 He’s had unseemly public spats with a couple of comics who have also knocked each other about (albeit in a Twittery, non-physical way). Stewart Lee expressed disappointment at Watson’s appearance in those cider adverts while Frankie Boyle got a bit upset at comments made by Watson about some of the Glaswegian’s more contentious material. He also mentioned the marketing campaign for a pear-infused alcoholic apple drink. Kissing and making up on all sides has yet to be reported.
5 Even the most assured stand-ups have their tales of stage woe. Watson’s ‘favourite’ is the time early on in his career when he had stuff thrown at him in Maidstone by ‘absolutely feral Kentish people’.
Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 18 Nov.